Research - Foray 1998

1998 Herbarium Foray: Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon

The 17 participants in the June 1998 Foray found botanically rich collecting grounds in the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon, where geological complexities encouraged a unique flora to develop. During the five days of the Foray we collected some 428 vascular plant specimens and 270 lichen specimens to add to the Herbariumís holdings. These numbers do not reflect the multiple replicates collected for use as exchange and gifts to other institutions and researchers.

High points of the Foray included swimming in the limpid pools of the Illinois River (this included one intra-vehicular dip), sightings of the endemic species Kalmiopsis leachiana, and 360 degree views from Pearsoll Peak. Once again, John Myers cooked a lavish spaghetti feast for Saturday night, and this was followed by a knock-em-senseless chocolate dessert competition.

A series of four evening sessions, held in late 1998 and early 1999, followed the 1998 foray to the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon. Foray participants and other volunteers, especially Mildred Arnot, identified the plant specimens, and all of the 428 vascular plant specimens were identified before the start of the 1999 Foray.